Waltee w



(No Model.)-y

A W. W. HAMILTON.

HORSE- DBTAGHER.

No. 265,316. Patented 0013.3. 1882.

illm'run STATES 'AruNr trice.

\VL'I`ER W. HAMILTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HORSE-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,316, dated October 3, 1882,

Application lcd April 12, 1882. (No model.)

To all w/Lom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER W. HAMIL- TON, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State ot' Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Wagons and other Vehicles, ot' which the following is a description suiciently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation, showing a wagon provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a top view of the whiftletree; Fig. 3, a view of the end of the Whifiletree; and Fig. 4, a view of the shaft, showing the breech-hook and a part of the breeching-strap.

Like letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in the different gures of the drawings.

My invention relates to means for detaching the horse from the wagon or other vehicle to which it is applied; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a more effective device of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

ln the drawings, Arepresents the body of the wagon 5 B, the dash-board; C, the shafts, and D the whiitletree. rlhe whiftletree is provided at its rear side with two rods, E G, arranged to slide longitudinally in the supports or eyes a a, the outer ends of the rods 'having laterally-projecting lips or flanges :v z, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Projecting from the respective ends of the whiiiietree are studs or rods m m., which pass through corresponding holes in lthe tlanges x and come into contact with the flanges z, when the rods E G are pushed or drawn inwardly to their fullest extent. The inner ends of the rods E G are respectively provided with an annular lian ge or button, t', and coiled spring n, one end of the spring abutting against the stop l and the other againsttheinner face of the button t', the spring acting eXpansively t0 force or draw the rod toward the center of the whiftletree and bring the ange z against the outer end of the stud m, thus securing the trace or tug d on the stud, as shown in Fig. 2.

Disposed in the outer ends of each of the stops l there is a friction-wheel, I), and there is also a friction-wheel, c, iu the forward end ofthe body ofthe wagon, and another at j' in the top of the dash-board.

Two cords, s s, are respectively attached to the buttonsz'i, and pass around the Wheels b b. These cords are joined at t to form the main cord M, which passes under the wheel e and vertically up the inner side of the dash-board over the wheel f, where it is attached to the knob p. A

In harnessing-or attaching the horse to a wagon or other vehicle provided with my improvement the rodsE G are drawn outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and the traces d slipped over the studs m, the rods, when released, being forced inwardly by the springs, assuming the position shown in Fig. 2, thus securing the traces on the studs m by means ofthe flanges z. The breeching-straps are then secured in the ordinary manner to the hooks N, and the other parts of the harness adjusted as usual.

In case the horse becomes frightened or runs away, it may be instantly detached from the carriage by pulling on the cord M, which, by acting through the cords s s, compresses the springs n n, forces the rods E G outwardly, and slips the traces d from the studs m in a manner which will be readily understood by all couversant with such matters without a more explicit description.

The outer or free end of the holdback or breeching-hook N is elastic, and so arranged in reference to the shaft as topermit the breeching-strap g to be readily withdrawn therefrom as the horse leaves the shafts.

I am aware that a slotted sliding plate operated by a cord for detachiug the traces is not new; but said device requires a special form of whiftletree having one side made flat, while my device may be readily applied to whiffletrees already in use. Moreover, the plate in that device is liable to release the traces accidentally, as there are no springs for holding it in its normal position.

I am also aware that hinged plates operated by a cord are not new for this purpose 5 but these are less positiveiu their action than mine, and are more cumbersome upon the whiftletree.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim isrIhe combination of a whittletree provided IOO with studs at the ends, longitudinelly-sliding the inner ends ofthe rods and passing over rods, each provided with a flange at its inner the pulleys of the inner-loops, substantially as [o end and with two lugs at its outer end, loops described.

on the whiietree in which the rods slide, the ,1 T Y ,p n 5 inner loops being provided With pulleys or eyes WALHLI UAMILLON for the cords, springs encircling the rods be- Vitnesses:

tween the inner flanges thereof and the inner G. A. SHAW,

loops of the whili'letree, und cords attached to l \V. H. DIEHL. 

